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Patients wanted for maggots trial

Two hundred patients are being sought for a trial looking at how efficient maggots are at wound cleaning.

Cardiff University is teaming up with Bridgend-based ZooBiotic, the UK's only commercial producer of medicinal-quality larvae for the 12-month trial.

Eight hospitals across England and Wales will collaborate on the project.

Researchers will gather evidence over 12 months how effective maggots can be in speeding up healing and cutting the length of hospital stays.

Prof Keith Harding, head of Cardiff University's department of wound healing, said Wales was leading the way in this area of research.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that maggots are extremely successful in the speedy and effective cleaning of wounds and the year-long trial aims to translate that into hard evidence.

Prof Harding, who is also clinical director of wound healing at Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust, has a worldwide reputation in wound healing, and will be the chief investigator.

Centres taking part in the trial

George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton

Charing Cross Hospital - part of Imperial College, London

Bradford Royal Infirmary

Singleton Hospital, Swansea

Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny

Pilgrim and Boston Hospitals, Lincoln

Bristol Primary Care Trust

Worcestershire Primary Care Trust

"Wales is leading the way by conducting this trial, combining the technological expertise offered by ZooBiotic, and the clinical and academic excellence available at the wound healing department," he said.

"Ours is the only university based wound healing department in the world. We are unique in that have a multidisciplinary team providing treatment for patients as well as highly skilled individuals carrying out important research."

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